Goodrich- To Ali Smith, Myspace is no big deal.
Smith, 17, a recent Goodrich High School graduate said all the latest hype about MySpace, an on-line community of individual web pages tailored to its creator’s on-line identity, is a tool much like e-mail. Simply a means of communication.
‘I really don’t think it’s a big deal as long as you’re using caution,? said Smith, who uses the site to maintain friendships with people she doesn’t often see, including those she meets through church activities. In her six months using the site, neither she nor any of her friends have had a problem.
Much of the attention MySpace has recently received has focused on its being a haven for on-line predators, looking for young people to seduce into a real life encounter. Making matters worse is the way in which students sometimes post provocative pictures, as those profiles tend to get more visitors and elicit more positive comments made about the poster.
The self described ‘place for friends? is popular with local teens. A search of MySpace showed 226 Goodrich High School students between the ages of 16 and 18 registered on the site and 391 from Brandon High School.
And while students aren’t allowed to use the site on school computers, Goodrich High School Principal St.Aubin said he doesn’t feel that’s where the majority of kids get on-line, ultimately leaving the responsibility in the hand of the parents.
‘I think the parents just have to be aware that the kids are getting on MySpace at home,? said St. Aubin.
‘We can’t tell a kid not to have their own Website. We can monitor and regulate what they do here. I think we’re going to have to educate the students and come up with a plan to educate them about the negative aspects of the site.?
St. Aubin said it’s not so much Myspace itself that is a problem, but what students put on the site.
‘I don’t think they know the consequences,? he said.
Even students who believe they are being cautious may be revealing more information about themselves than they realize, St.Aubin explained. He gave the hypothetical example of a student posting pictures of a team sport in which they participate. An act as simple as that, said St.Aubin, will allow someone to figure out what area that student lives in and the school they attend, by looking at jerseys on the players.
‘Post a lot of personal information then you can possibly make yourself a target,? said St. Aubin.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Department Undersheriff James Gage agreed.
‘The Internet is free to everybody and that’s the problem,’said Gage. ‘Parents don’t understand the dangers.?
Predators ‘lure these young kids into meeting them. The Internet is a pedophile’s dream come true. The problem is not new, but is becoming more prevalent. Safety is paramount, said Gage.
‘We’ve been preaching it and preaching it and preaching it. The alarm has to be set loud and clear. It’s an epidemic.?
When asked what precautions he would advise for parents with children using the Internet, Gage takes a strong position.
‘I would not allow a minor child in my house to access the computer without being in the room with them,? said Gage. ‘You might as well give them a loaded gun then go away to work.?
Despite the recent attention MySpace is receiving, there are still parents who are unaware of it’s existence or unclear about what it is and the dangers it may present .
St.Aubin, said he is concerned parents don’t know enough about the site to know to be wary and wants to address the issue at an open house.
‘We’re going to have a meeting with parents to inform them about it and about what’s going on,? said St.Aubin.
Each profile has an area in which to display a photo of the person to whom the page belongs, as well as a section for individuals to describe themselves to anyone who visits their profile. Users typically list their age, name, location. People are also invited to list schools they’ve attended or are attending, allowing them access to classmates who also use MySpace.
The on-line profiles can be accessed by anyone, unless the creator specifies they are younger than 16 and would only like their page to be accessible to specific individuals.
An on-line counter keeps track of how many times a page has been viewed. A public list of people the profile owner has accepted as ‘friends?’or, people frequently communicated with on the site? is on the page as well, making the site in some sense, an on-line popularity contest.
And while some teens may not be responsible enough for the nearly limitless freedom the Internet offers, Smith feels parents should evaluate each kid individually, rather than lumping them all into the category of being naive or irresponsible.
‘It depends on the kid,? said Smith.
As a teen Smith acknowledged the possible threat sites such as MySpace pose and had a suggestion for parents. ‘Maybe put guidelines on it, maybe then it would be better.?
‘If you trust your kid and talk to them about it,? said Smith, then you can make a decision based on that information.